TEHRAN – Necessary arrangements for hosting travelers during Noruz (New Year holidays, starting March 21) have been made in 208 villages across Mazandaran province, northern Iran, a local official has said, IRNA reported.

Of the 208 villages, 126 are considered as travel destinations and 82 as stopover spots, Hassan Asgharian-Rostami said.

Mazandaran, which is home to more than 3500 villages and rural areas, hosted over three million night-stays during the previous Noruz holidays, the official explained.

Provincial statistics indicates that more than 11 million domestic holidaymakers visited Mazandaran from March 18 to 30, showing around 15 percent year-on-year increase.

Stretched along the Caspian Sea and Alborz mountain range, Mazandaran is a popular destination for domestic holidaymakers and it is home to over 70 eco-lodges.

AFM/MG